"Yun."
Yun turned over, clutching her scroll. It had been a few weeks since she had Yufan had finally decided to be in a relationship together, and it had made her quite jumpy, especially in public places such as where they were now, which was the library.
"Yes, Sister Su?"
"Shifu Nalan said that he wants to see you after lunch at his study."
Yun nodded, slowly letting out a breath she did not realise she had held.
It was hard keeping a relationship a secret, especially when she was around people all the time. And especially when the both of them were not supposed to be in a relationship. But the one thing that made it easier was the amount of time they were comfortable spending alone although they were both in a relationship together.
Since Yufan was busy with his military duties most of the time, they mostly write to each other. Once a week or once a fortnight, they would meet up on the roof to watch the moon, or Yun would make her way to the cave halfway on the top of the mountain, and they would spend some time together.
In his latest letter however, he said he had wanted to bring her to a new place where they could spend time together without fear of running into anyone. And she was excited and worried at the same time for it.
Because this means no turning back on a path that was by no means rational at all.
But oh well, since when liking someone was even rational in the first place?
═════════════════
"Yun, take a seat."
Yun curtsied and sat down on the small cushion in the study, right opposite from Shifu Nalan.
He was boiling something in a cauldron, his back faced towards her.
The whole room was silent as Yun looked at him with apprehension, feeling something was wrong.
Shifu Nalan then turned over, the frown on his face visibly even under layers of his bushy white moustache, and she was sure that something was wrong.
"I see that you've been going out more often lately." He said, looking down from his study desk, which was elevated on a raised platform. Books of all sorts were stacked neatly on top sides of it, along with small clay bottles and large jars of all shapes and sizes.
"Yes, Shifu Nalan." Yun lowered her eyes, not trusting them to not reveal anything to her Shifu. He had known her for too long, for he had practically raised her.
"Is it true that it is not because of your herbal studies, nor because of your healing in anyway?"
"... No. Shifu Nalan." Yun bowed her head even lower, and she shuffled to kneel on the floor instead of the cushion. "I acknowledge my mistake, and I would be willing to accept any punishment."
"For what?" He boomed strictly.
"For not focusing on my studies and my duties as a healer."
"And I should not punish you on the negligence of keeping yourself a secret of the outside world?"
"Shifu?" Yun lifted her head, shocked.
"I know that you have been friends with a member of the Royal Family, and I cannot allow this to continue. You will forfeit your friendship with him, or you will be grounded on the Isle forever."
His moustache twitched vigorously as he looked upon her.
Yun's mind was blank. She had known that a day would come where someone would find out eventually, but she had always thought of it in the far future.
"Are you still not able to make a choice?"
"I'm sorry, Shifu. But I don't want to choose." Yun said firmly, lowering her head.
"You—" A heavy sigh accompanied it. "Then you will be grounded, never to leave the Isle again. Go back to your room."
"But Shifu, why? Why are you so adamant on keeping me a secret? Why can't I go outside?"
But Shifu Nalan had turned his back over to her.
"Shifu?"
"You are special. And the others don't see it. They will want you for their own purposes and it will inevitably destroy you in the end, because you are not ready."
When he spoke again, his voice was weather and tired. It also sounded sad at the same time.
"You will stay in your room, and you will break all contact with the outside world from now on." He ordered, the tone in his voice making it sound final. "Go."
═════════════════
"Yun, I'm here."
Yun lifted her head at Yufan's voice. Shakily, she tried to smile, but she knew that something had gave her away.
He entered the open window, and immediately knelt down by her side, hands placed around her shoulder.
"Yufan." Her voice broke as she leaned into him, and sobbed into his chest. "I'm sorry."
"What's wrong?" He asked soothingly, patting her shoulders to calm her down.
"Shifu found out. I'm not supposed to go out at all, nor love anyone beyond these walls."
"But you did come out to the Court, didn't you?"
"It was a secret outing." Yun sniffled, trying to stop her tears. "And the competition, I used a fake name and a fake standing so that no one would find out that it was me."
Yufan nodded, his chin brushing against her hair. "I see."
Once she had calmed down, Yufan pulled away from her and held her at arm's length. "Let me talk to your Shifu. I'm sure he can listen to reason."
Yun caught his hand as he was standing up however.
"Don't worry, I'll be reasonable." Yufan said, gently removing her hand as he knelt down again. "Wait for me here."
She watched as he left through the open room window again, feeling a sense of calm slowly washing over her.
She trusted him. She trusted that it will be alright.
═════════════════
"What did Shifu say?" Yun asked as they soared over the clouds.
"He said that I should keep you safe. And I should shelter you from all harm coming your way." Yufan said after a few moments of silence. "Nobody should know that we are together."
"But we won't have a future together then, won't we?"
"I will not marry anyone if it is not you, Yun. While for the rest, only time can tell."
"But if you don't want to wait for me, I'll understand."
"...I'll wait." Yun said, turning over to look at him.
The pale moonlight that shone down on him made him look ethereal, the contours of his face half in the shadows, and half shining bright.
She stared, until a waft of a subtle fragrance caught her attention. Turning her gaze downwards, she gasped.
It was a field of moonshine peonies. A whole field that stretched as wide as the eye could see. They glowed a soft bluish-white as they swayed in the wind. A gazebo was in the middle of the flower field, lanterns illuminating it.
Yun turned around in awe as they landed.
"This is a small isle under my jurisdiction. And I had one of my friends pull me a favour to plant all of the peonies. Next time, if we ever feel like coming away somewhere, we can always come here." His lips were upturned as he looked outwards. "Here, we can be ourselves, away from our responsibilities and duties for a while when we are together."
"It's lovely." Yun breathed. "And I appreciate the thought."
"Would you like for me to show you around?"
Yun took his extended hand, slipping her fingers into his until they were entwined tightly together.
"Please."